New Paper on Triassic Dinosauriform Footprints from Brazil

This was just announced as now being out in Ameghiniana, although I was not able to find a link to this article on-line (the Ameghiniana website is often behind). One quick note: Sacisaurus is a "silesaurid" dinosauriform and not a dinosaurian.

Abstract. Dinosaur footprints in Jurassic and Cretaceous rocks are common in Brazil , but there are only a few records from Triassic. In Rio Grande do Sul State , tridactyl medium size footprints were found in Carnian rocks. The material proceeds from Predebon outcrop, São João do Polêsine County, Rio Grande do Sul State, that corresponds to the higher portion of the Alemoa Member, Santa Maria Formation. The footprints occur in sandstone lenses. The ichnofossils were identified as dinosaur footprints indet. and as Grallator ? sp. The footprints should correspond to undertracks, since many superficial characteristics are absent, so that the differences between the footprints could correspond to preservational factors. On the basis of morphologic and stratigraphic criteria, the footprints can be attributed to basal dinosaurs. Some dinosaurs known for the Brazilian Triassic, such as Staurikosaurus , Saturnalia, and Sacisaurus, could be the producers of these footprints. The occurrences of dinosaur footprints of the Predebon outcrop correspond to the oldest ones of Brazil , and moreover, they are compatible with the known paleofauna of Alemoa-Caturrita sequence.

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My name is Bill Parker and I am a paleontologist in northeastern Arizona. While my day job mainly involves roaming the badlands of Petrified Forest National Park picking up bit after bit of phytosaur scrap (and finding some good stuff in-between), thus my main focus is the paleontology of the Triassic Period. However, I also have a very strong interest in Civil War history, and am a direct descendent of veterans who fought on both sides. Note: This is a personal site and all posts are my own opinions and do not represent the opinions of the National Park Service.